Wednesday, February 13, 2019

The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.Additional Participating Entity:Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaAviation Accident Factual Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdfInvestigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdmshttp://registry.faa.gov/N270JLocation: Toughkenamon, PAAccident Number: ERA16LA285Date & Time: 08/04/2016, 1813 EDTRegistration: N270JAircraft: SHAFFER DONALD ARION LIGHTNINGAircraft Damage: SubstantialDefining Event: Loss of engine power (total)Injuries: 1 MinorFlight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - PersonalOn August 4, 2016, about 1813 eastern daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Arion Lightning, N270J, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing to a field near the New Garden Airport (N57), Toughkenamon, Pennsylvania. The sport pilot/builder, who was also the registered owner and operator, sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. No flight plan was filed for the local flight that depart N57 about 1705.The pilot stated that he had flown for about an hour before he returned to the airport. While on the downwind leg of the traffic pattern, he reduced engine power, extended the flaps to 20°, turned on the electric fuel pump and the carburetor heat, and adjusted the mixture. The pilot said this was his normal procedure to land. When turning onto the base leg, he reduced engine power to idle and the engine suddenly stopped producing power. The pilot tried to re-start the engine several times, but realized he was not going to make the runway and attempted to land in a field. The airplane struck a power line and landed hard resulting in substantial damage to the wings, firewall, and fuselage.A postaccident examination of the engine by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector confirmed compression and valve train continuity for each cylinder when the engine crankshaft was rotated. The engine-driven fuel pump also turned. The airframe fuel filter was examined and absent of debris. The carburetor was removed from the engine and disassembled. The bowl and jets were clear and absent of debris. The carburetor floats were undamaged, and the fuel needle valve was clear of debris and had a positive cutoff of fuel. The altitude compensation bellows were undamaged and functioned properly. The ignition cut-off switch and the left and right distributor caps were undamaged and functioned when tested. The spark plugs exhibited "normal" wear. No preimpact mechanical deficiencies were noted that would have precluded normal operation of the engine at the time of impact.The airplane was equipped with a Dynon SkyView SV-D1000 display and data was downloaded at the NTSB Recorder Laboratory, Washington D.C. A review of the data revealed that after the pilot departed, he headed west and climbed to 7,300 ft, before turning back to the airport at 1739. When the airplane turned on a left downwind to land, the engine rpm decreased rapidly from 2,300 rpm to 1,300 rpm. Engine rpm decreased at a slower rate to 700 rpm for the next 25 seconds before dropping to zero at 1812. The airplane impacted terrain at 1813. A review of engine parameters for the last few minutes of the flight were consistent with a loss of engine power as reported by the pilot.A review of the airplane maintenance logbook indicated that the pilot performed the last condition inspection on July 6, 2016. The airplane and engine had both accrued about 372 total hours at the time of the accident.The pilot held a private pilot certificate for airplane single-engine land, a sport pilot certificate, and a repairman certificate (experimental aircraft builder). He was operating as a sport pilot at the time of the accident and had a valid Pennsylvania driver's license as required by the FAA. The pilot reported a total of 883 total of hours, of which, 315 hours, were in the accident airplane.Weather at the Chester County G.O. Carlson Airport, about 10 miles northwest of the accident site, at 1835, was reported as calm wind, visibility 10 miles, and clear skies.Pilot InformationCertificate: Private; Sport PilotAge: 72, MaleAirplane Rating(s): Single-engine LandSeat Occupied: LeftOther Aircraft Rating(s): NoneRestraint Used: 4-pointInstrument Rating(s): NoneSecond Pilot Present: NoInstructor Rating(s): NoneToxicology Performed: NoMedical Certification: Sport Pilot NoneLast FAA Medical Exam:Occupational Pilot: NoLast Flight Review or Equivalent: 11/21/2015Flight Time: 883 hours (Total, all aircraft), 315 hours (Total, this make and model), 750 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 16 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 8 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 3 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)Aircraft and Owner/Operator InformationAircraft Make: SHAFFER DONALDRegistration: N270JModel/Series: ARION LIGHTNING NO SERIESAircraft Category: AirplaneYear of Manufacture: 2010Amateur Built: YesAirworthiness Certificate: ExperimentalSerial Number: 00101Landing Gear Type: TricycleSeats: 2Date/Type of Last Inspection: 07/06/2016, ConditionCertified Max Gross Wt.: 1320 lbsTime Since Last Inspection: 6 HoursEngines: 1 ReciprocatingAirframe Total Time: 372 Hours at time of accidentEngine Manufacturer: JABIRUELT: C126 installed, activated, did not aid in locating accidentEngine Model/Series: 3300Registered Owner: On fileRated Power: 120 hpOperator: On fileOperating Certificate(s) Held: NoneMeteorological Information and Flight PlanConditions at Accident Site: Visual ConditionsCondition of Light: DayObservation Facility, Elevation: MQS, 660 ft mslDistance from Accident Site: 10 Nautical MilesObservation Time: 1835 EDTDirection from Accident Site: 310°Lowest Cloud Condition: ClearVisibility: 10 MilesLowest Ceiling:Visibility (RVR):Wind Speed/Gusts: Calm Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: NoneWind Direction:Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual:Altimeter Setting: 30.12 inches HgTemperature/Dew Point: 26°C / 17°CPrecipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No PrecipitationDeparture Point: Toughkenamon, PA (N57)Type of Flight Plan Filed: NoneDestination: Toughkenamon, PA (N57)Type of Clearance: NoneDeparture Time: 1705 EDTType of Airspace: Class EAirport InformationAirport: New Garden (N57)Runway Surface Type: AsphaltAirport Elevation: 436 ftRunway Surface Condition: VegetationRunway Used: N/AIFR Approach: NoneRunway Length/Width: VFR Approach/Landing: Forced Landing Wreckage and Impact InformationCrew Injuries: 1 MinorAircraft Damage: SubstantialPassenger Injuries: N/AAircraft Fire: NoneGround Injuries: N/AAircraft Explosion: NoneTotal Injuries: 1 MinorLatitude, Longitude: 39.831389, -75.757500 (est)NTSB Identification: ERA16LA28514 CFR Part 91: General AviationAccident occurred Thursday, August 04, 2016 in TOUGHKENAMON, PAAircraft: SHAFFER DONALD ARION LIGHTNING, registration: N270JInjuries: 1 Minor.This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. NTSB investigators may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.On August 4, 2016, about 1900 eastern daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Arion Lightning, N270J, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing to a field near the New Garden Airport (N57), Toughkenamon, Pennsylvania. The sport pilot/builder/owner sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. No flight plan was filed for the local flight that depart N57 about 1800.The pilot stated that he had flown for about an hour before he returned to the airport. When turning onto the base leg, he reduced engine RPM and the engine lost all power. The pilot realized he was not going to make the runway and attempted to land in a field. The airplane struck a power line and landed hard resulting in substantial damage to the wings, firewall, and fuselage.The avionic components containing non-volatile memory were retained for further examination.